Welcome from West Hollywood City Council & Special Guest Speakers

Keynote Speaker:

Sandra de Castro Buffington

Founding Director, Global Media Center for Social Impact, UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health

Sandra de Castro Buffington is a global leader in entertainment for social change. As Founding Director of the Global Media Center for Social Impact at UCLA, Sandra unleashes the storytelling power of television, film and new media to improve health, justice and wellbeing worldwide.

Sandra works closely with Hollywood and other creative capitals to inspire storylines that have profound impact on audiences’ knowledge and awareness, and move them to action. Her research measures the impact of storytelling on viewers and maps the pro-social content on top TV shows.

For her work, Sandra was named one of The Nation’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics by PODER magazine in 2012, World Film Institute’s 2014 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Female Eye Film Festival’s 2015 Honorary Maverick Award. Sandra’s vasectomy campaign in Brazil earned seven international advertising awards. Formerly director of HH&S, Sandra’s groundbreaking work resulted in 565 storylines that aired on 91 shows from 2009 to 2012.

Leadership Sessions | Morning

Taking the Lead — Get Appointed to a California State Commission or Board!

Nikki Johnson

Sr. Advisor to the Speaker on Appointments, Office of Speaker Anthony Rendon

Nikki Johnson has worked for the California State Assembly in its Speaker’s Office since 2012. There she has served under the past three Assembly Speakers: John A. Pérez, Toni G. Atkins and Anthony Redon. In 2016, she was appointed to senior advisor to the Speaker on appointments. Johnson oversees all outreach, as well as, the management of current, expired and vacant Speaker appointments.

In 2015-2016, she served as both the outreach and event consultant for Assembly Speaker Atkins, as well as, the senior advisor to the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. During her time at the Commission, she advised on policy issues and helped hire staff. In addition, she was instrumental in a number of projects, such as the Commission’s Pay Equality Task force, Million Women Mentors initiative and hearings conducted by the California Assembly Select Committee on Women and Girls of Color.

Johnson is best known for working on special projects for the Speaker. She was the event coordinator for the historical Speaker swearing-in ceremonies of both Atkins (2014) and Rendon (2016). In 2017, she began a dual role and also holds a leadership position in the Speaker’s Office of Protocol. Nikki resides in Sacramento with her husband and their three children.

Mona Pasquil

Appointments Secretary, Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.

Mona Pasquil serves as Appointments Secretary in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and is responsible for helping the Governor build his administration by recruiting top candidates to serve the state. Prior to her appointment, Pasquil served as Chief of Staff to California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi and Acting Lieutenant Governor, after Garamendi was elected to Congress. This marked the first time a woman, Asian Pacific Islander or Filipino-American served in this role.

Pasquil is a veteran political advisor and strategist, serving as President of Pasquil Associates & Strategic Communications for more than three decades and directing presidential, gubernatorial, and local campaigns across the nation. In addition to working with California and Washington’s heaviest political hitters, Pasquil also worked as a strategic consultant for IBM’s national, state and local government sales team.

Pasquil is most proud of her work mentoring California’s youth to become more active in their communities. This work includes founding the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project of California, an organization dedicated to boosting Asian and Pacific Islander youth involvement in California policy.

Workplace Gender Equality and Economic Advancement for Women

Emerald Archer

Director, Center for the Advancement of Women, Mount Saint Mary’s University

Emerald Archer has dedicated her career to studying questions related to gender equity and women’s representation in non-traditional domains such as the United States military. Through the Center, Dr. Archer’s primary goal is to promote and increase gender equity in California and our region. She leads the Center’s efforts related to applied research, education and policy analysis.

Before joining Mount Saint Mary’s University in 2017, Dr. Archer served as a faculty member in the Politics & History department and as the Associate Dean of the College of Liberals Arts at Woodbury University. She has published articles in The European Legacy and Armed Forces & Society, and recently wrote a book, titled Women, Warfare and Representation: American Servicewomen in the Twentieth Century, that will be published by Bloomsbury in August 2017. Dr. Archer holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2009).

Ina Coleman

Organizational Development Consultant, Sirenia Partners

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Ina Coleman is an independent expert in Organizational Development focusing on gender equity. She analyzes organizations environments and recommends changes to improve inclusion and diversity, employee morale and efficiency. Ms. Coleman’s work includes data gathering, diagnosis, feedback, planning, evaluation and follow-up. She is known for her organizational skills, people skills, and direction-setting skills.

As the former managing director of the Feminist Majority Foundation (www.feminist.org), the leading global non-profit whose work advances the social, economic and political equality of women, her work included public education programs, public policy development, grassroots organizing, leadership training, and organizing forums on issues of women’s equality and empowerment.

Ms. Coleman has significant experience communicating a compelling business case for fostering diverse and inclusive workforces. She assesses, recommends, and assists implementing the tools necessary to change mindsets surrounding the purpose and benefits. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Business School, she serves on several boards, including Stanford’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

Tiffany Smith-Anoa’I

Tiffany Smith-Anoa’i is the Executive Vice President, Entertainment Diversity, Inclusion & Communications at CBS Entertainment. In this position, she expands upon the division’s current diversity initiatives and develops new programs that recruit, nurture and hire diverse talent to work in front of and behind the camera. She also serves as the entertainment liaison to multi-cultural coalition groups and provides outreach to agencies, guilds and other industry organizations that represent diverse talent.

In 2009, Smith-Anoa’i created and launched “CBS On Tour,” a community outreach program in which executives visit schools to educate and encourage students interested in entertainment careers. As EVP, she has also expanded the writer selection process for “The CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase”; implemented an annual symposium with casting directors to strategize on best practices to diversify the casting process; partnered with GLAAD to host learning workshops and joined forces with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to encourage roles for women in front of and behind the camera.

In addition to her executive duties, Smith-Anoa’i leads the West Coast efforts on various projects and network specials, including the annual Grammy Awards®. Tiffany maintains a close relationship with her alma mater, Howard University, where she graduated with honors from the School of Communications. She currently resides in her home town of Los Angeles with her husband Reno J. Anoa’i and their daughter and current Archer student, Vaughan.

Moderator:

Dulari Amin

Chief Operating Officer, Qello LLC

Dulari Amin is the Chief Operating Officer of Qello, digital video solutions company. Dulari oversees business operations, human capital management, marketing, policy, and communications. Dulari was most recently, co-Founder and President of Phenomenon, a brand strategy and creative agency. From 2006-2017, Dulari grew Phenomenon to over 150 employees. Her clients included some of the biggest brands in the world.

Dulari started her career at Dentsu, scaling high-growth agencies in New York City and New Delhi. Dulari was featured in Advertising Age’s under 30 list for her early work. In 2016, she was recognized as one of LA’s top entrepreneurs by Los Angeles Business Journal, and received a congressional honor from the House of Representatives for her contributions as a minority entrepreneur.

Dulari graduated with Honors from the Fashion Institute of Technology, with a Bachelors in Advertising & Marketing. She received her graduate degree from Harvard Business School. She is on the Board of Trustees for Woodbury University. She serves on the Young Leaders Council for the Milken Institute. She invests in and is an advisor to startups in consumer, life sciences, and technology.

Technology as a Pathway to Women’s Equality

Lilly Kam

Product Manager, i.am+

Lilly Kam is Product Manager at i.am+, a company focused on innovative wearable technology powered by artificial intelligence, founded by musician will.i.am. She also serves as Advisor to the i.am.angel Foundation, a nonprofit that brings high-impact STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programs to students in underserved communities.

In 2013, she co-founded Hack for L.A., an organization that brings Los Angeles’ tech community together with city government to solve civic problems through utilizing open data and app development.

Prior to joining i.am+, Lilly worked in product management for tech companies in Beijing, China, and was a research fellow at the Tsinghua University Center for Future Media. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Cam Kashani

Godmother of #SiliconBeach, COACCEL

Cameron (Cam) Kashani is the “Godmother of Silicon Beach”, an Expert Speaker with US State Department, 3x founder, and single mom of twin boys. She’s worked with 4000+ Entrepreneurs and 700+ startups.

She previously cofounded the first coworking space in Los Angeles for technology startups in 2010, Coloft. Coloft had over 1400 alumni, including Uber LA, Instacart, Ziprecruiter and others.

She is currently on her third company, COACCEL: The Human Accelerator with a focus on female founders. Cam is on a mission is to humanize business, and her vision is a global economy that thrives on “WE” as opposed to “ME”. Cam was recently named by Inc. Magazine as one of thirty Inspirational Women in tech in 2017.

Marina Lee

Founder & CEO, Women In Tech Network

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MIDA Women In Tech Network founded in 2012 by Marina Lee – is now more than 5 years old. In just a few short years, the concept has evolved from a ‘women in tech’ conference to a networking lifeline for female entrepreneurs. The company has grown to feature regular conferences, pitch events and investor connections. It’s the reason why so many female entrepreneurs feel empowered to pursue their dreams. With spotlight in the media on the ‘brogrammer culture’ and tech companies revealing the lack of women in the tech industry through published stats, we wanted to help change the ratio.

Loretta Whitesides

Founder Astronaut and Consultant, Virgin Galactic

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Loretta and her husband George are ‘Founder Astronauts’ with tickets for a sub-orbital spaceflight on Virgin Galactic’s Spaceship ‘Unity.’ Trained as an astrobiologist at Stanford and Caltech, Loretta has been to the Canadian Arctic to study plant life in extreme environments and to the hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the ocean with “Titanic” director James Cameron to film a 3D IMAX documentary, “Aliens of the Deep.”

She is the Co-creator of Yuri’s Night, The World Space Party, celebrated annually all around the planet around April 12. Loretta has over five hours spent floating weightless (in 30 second chunks) on a 727 aircraft as a Flight Director for Zero-G Corporation. She is also working on a book for people who want to use space bring out the best in themselves called, “The New Right Stuff.”

Loretta’s passion is creating the culture of the Sci-Fi future to go along with the warp drives.

Moderator:

Espree Devora

Producer & Host, WeAreLATech

Espree Devora “the Girl who Gets it Done” is the Producer and Host of WeAreLATech podcast , “Hello Customer” and #womenintech Podcast. All have hit #1 on iTunes New & Noteworthy across all categories.

She has run the monthly LA podcasters meetup since 2014. WeAreLATech (wearelatech.com) unites the LA tech community via the podcast, a calendar of all tech events happening in the city and an offline ‘Experience’ Club. The Club provides people working in tech curated activities to step away from the computer like horseback riding, escape rooms, food tours, archery and more.

She has given talks on entrepreneurship to many organizations including USC Business School, CBS, South by Southwest and Georgetown MBA. Most recently she was listed by INC Magazine as one of the top 30 women in tech to follow.

Lunchtime Breakout Discussions

Reproductive Justice | Human Trafficking | Climate Change

Reproductive Justice

Sara Mitchell

Public Affairs Specialist, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles

Sara Mitchell is on the Public Affairs Team for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, focusing on legislative affairs and communications. Sara assists with advocacy, lobbying, grassroots organizing, and community relations. Prior to PPLA, Sara handled legislative affairs and all communications at an Los Angeles-area chamber of commerce and has years of experience in political, business and health reporting and editing. She was born and raised in Virginia and studied pre-law and journalism at Virginia Tech.

Human Trafficking

Cassandra Krcmar

Cassandra Krcmar, MS; CT/RT, CADAC. is an Associate Director of Incarceration & Anti-Human Trafficking.
She was born and raised in Southern California; and attended Loyola Marymount University for undergraduate, and completed a BS degree in Political Science, and a minor Sociology, in 2005. She has an interest in social justice issues and started volunteering at a variety of organizations and political campaigns in college. She interned at the Attorney General’s office of the District of Columbia in the Juvenile Division and decided to attend graduate school at American University. While in her graduate program, working towards an MS degree in Justice, Law & Society she became very involved in corrections and the philosophy of punishment. Cassandra completed her MS degree in 2008.

As she moved along in her studies, she interned at the Bureau of Prisons Residential Re-entry Facility in one of DC’s toughest neighborhoods as a facilitator of groups of 30-50 women who were pre-trial or post-conviction. It was in those groups that she began to see first hand the different needs of female offenders compared to their male counterparts. While in Washington, DC, she began to see alarming amounts of underage prostitution as well as brothels being raided in the news and became involved in the Polaris Project focusing on Human Trafficking. Cassandra was integral in the fundraising efforts of this organization by hosting events that brought awareness to DC’s elite crowds.

Cassandra has worked with the Children’s Protection Agency as a Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADAC) as well as being certified in Choice Theory®/Reality Therapy. She is currently a volunteer facilitator at the California Institution for Women in Corona, CA as well as Centinela State Men’s Prison in El Centro, CA where she assists in the Choice Theory® Connections Internal Empowerment Coaching program. She also volunteers at the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking (CAST), answering a 24-Hour Hotline, working in the shelter and facilitating a group of volunteers in the implementation of SB1193 requiring specific businesses to post-human trafficking awareness signs.

Climate Change

Marta Segura

Segura builds and strengthens partnerships to protect communities, their health and the environment from oil drilling, oppose oil and gas projects, and support the enforcement of environmental protections in Southern California. She works on capacity building and training for our climate campaigns and acts as spokesperson in Spanish/English language media for Los Angeles programming. Holding a master’s of public heath from UCLA and a bachelor’s from UC Santa Barbara, she brought more than 20 years of experience in organizational leadership, community engagement and environmental advocacy with her to the Center.

Leadership Sessions | Afternoon

Democracy Now: Local Leaders Speak Out

Shikha Bhatnagar

Executive Director, South Asian Network (SAN)

Shikha Bhatnagar is the Executive DIrector of the South Asian Network, an LA-based nonprofit organization that seeks to support and empower South Asian Americans in the areas of health and well-being, civic engagement, and gender-based violence intervention and prevention.

For two decades, she has worked on critical domestic and global issues such as education, civic engagement, and economic development. She previously served as the Associate Director of the South Asia Center at the Atlantic Council, a DC-based foreign policy think tank; Executive Director for Teach For India; and Executive Director of the U.S. office of Akshaya Patra Foundation.

As a Presidential Management Fellow, Shikha served as an International Trade Specialist at the US Department of Commerce, where she focused on international trade policy. Shikha holds an MA in International Affairs from Columbia University and a BA in International Relations and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Diana Colin

Diana and her family immigrated to the United States from Mexico D.F. when she was two years old. Diana began her work at CHIRLA as a student volunteer in 2009, and was hired on as a statewide campaign organizer in 2013. Shortly after, she became the Director of Civic Engagement and under her leadership CHIRLA participated in the June 2014 primaries for the first time.

In 2016, the CHIRLA #InmigrantesEnAccion Electoral Campaign registered 11,297 voters and contacted 127,355 voters and had an 82% voter turnout.

Diana graduated from California State University Fullerton in 2011 with a major in Political Science.

Emiliana Guereca

Co-Executive Director, Women’s March Los Angeles Foundation

Emiliana is an entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, CA, with a passion for giving back to the community. Along with being an award-winning event producer, Emi devotes much of her time to advocacy programs for women’s rights, Latino education, and gender equality.

As a stellar community organizer, Emiliana brings her 10+ plus years of event experience to Women’s March LA. LGBT initiatives, youth mentorship programs, and gender equality movements are all causes close to her heart and are a priority in both her personal and professional lives.

In 2016, Emiliana founded the Women’s March LA Foundation, a non-profit organization, and is the driving force behind the official Women’s March in Los Angeles.

Alex Mohajer

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Bros4America

Alex Mohajer is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Bros4America, which in 2016 earned national media recognition for efforts to elect Hillary Clinton, as well as a Political Writer and Commentator for The Huffington Post.

In February, he was named one of OUT Magazine’s 100 Most Eligible Bachelors of 2017.

Mohajer is a contributing political writer and commentator for The Huffington Post, a legal advocate, and an award-winning actor, singer, and solo artist. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Chapman University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from U.C. Berkeley.

Allison VanKuiken

Program Director, Equality California

Allison VanKuiken is one of Equality California’s two program directors, and focuses on advocacy, education, and mobilization campaigns, in addition to leadership development programming.

Her 15-year career has spanned roles in higher education, the entertainment industry, corporate America, and the political realm. She is proudest of her work getting a diverse array of candidates elected to office, passing nondiscrimination ordinances, and preparing future leaders for public service.

Allison is a proud member of the transgender community, a supportive spouse, and loving mother to a beautiful seven month baby girl.

Moderator:

Abbe Land

Co-Founder, Indivisible LA; Former Mayor and Councilmember, City of West Hollywood

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Abbe Land is the former Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project, a nationally recognized nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. A recognized and respected health care professional and activist, Abbe has an impressive history of ensuring care to underrepresented populations and advocating for youth in the LGBTQ community. Prior to joining Trevor, Abbe served as Co-CEO of The Saban Community in Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to providing healthcare to the underserved.

In addition, Abbe has a wealth of public policy knowledge as an elected Councilmember of the City of West Hollywood from 1986-1997 and from 2003-2015, Abbe served as Mayor five times. She is known for her support and leadership on women’s issues, LGBTQ rights, affordable housing, healthcare access and civil liberties. Through her political advocacy, she was instrumental in the development of the City’s Women’s and Disability Advisory Boards, domestic violence prevention program for same-sex couples and landmark gun control legislation.

She is also involved with the Women Against Gun Violence; the L.A. County Department of Health Services’ Women’s Health Policy Council; Planned Parenthood Advocacy Board; TransCanWork and the AIDS Community Action Foundation. Most recently she co-founded an Indivisible Los Angeles Chapter: ROAR Resistance.

Women In Media – Leading the Way Forward

Finola Hughes

Emmy® Award-winning Actress & Filmmaker

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Finola Hughs is an Emmy® Award-winning actress with dozens of roles to her credit. She is best known for her work on the legendary daytime drama General Hospital. As a filmmaker, Hughs works in both narrative and documentary formats, with a current project that focuses on U.S. immigration enforcement and its effects on individuals communities.

Grace Lee

Peabody® Award-winning Filmmaker

Grace Lee is a Peabody® Award-winning filmmaker (American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs) whose new project is an interactive documentary website called K-TOWN ‘92 that invites viewers to explore alternative perspectives and untold stories of the 1992 LA riots. Alongside the website, her new short film, K-TOWN’92 Reporters, examines the media coverage of the day through reflections of three former LA Times reporters.

Li Lu

Writer & Director

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Li Lu is a writer and director who’s debut feature film There Is a New World Somewhere was honored at numerous festivals. Her work has been profiled in the New York Times, IndieWIRE, and elsewhere. A maker of both fiction and documentary films, she is focused on work that creates social impact and defies stereotypes by expanding the representation of minorities.

Marianna Palka

Writer/Director/Producer

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Marianna Palka is writer/director/producer known for her hit indie feature film The Good Dick, alongside numerous popular music videos and short films, including “Bitch,” which premiered at the 2017 Sundance® Film Festival. Marianna is also an actress who can be seen in the short film A Rose For Emily opposite James Franco, in HBO’s Girls, and in an upcoming role in the anticipated Netflix series GLOW which premieres June 23.

Moderator:

Cady McClain

Cady McClain is an Emmy® Award-winning actress known for numerous film and TV roles in both daytime and primetime. Cady is also a director whose credits include two award-winning short films and Venice the Series—the latter nominated for the 2017 Emmy® Award for outstanding online drama. Cady’s new film, Seeing is Believing: Women Direct, is a documentary that presents bracing and intimate conversations with women on the front lines of the film and television directing field. Seeing is Believing: Women Direct premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2017 where it won an honorable mention for “Best Documentary.”

Advocacy Training Breakout Session: Round One

Op-Ed Writing: Become a Thought Leader & Take Your Leadership to the Next Level

Tom Zoellner

Tom Zoellner is an associate professor of English at Chapman University and the author or co-author of seven nonfiction books, including Train, Uranium, The Heartless Stone and A Safeway in Arizona. He is the politics editor of The Los Angeles Review of Books and the recipient of residencies from the Corporation of Yaddo and the Lannan Foundation. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Harper’s, The American Scholar, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, The Oxford American, The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health, The Washington Post and many other places.

Sara Mitchell

Public Affairs Specialist, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles

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Sara Mitchell is on the Public Affairs Team for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, focusing on legislative affairs and communications. Sara assists with advocacy, lobbying, grassroots organizing, and community relations. Prior to PPLA, Sara handled legislative affairs and all communications at an Los Angeles-area chamber of commerce and has years of experience in political, business and health reporting and editing. She was born and raised in Virginia and studied pre-law and journalism
at Virginia Tech.

Tech Platforms & Cool Tools for Advocacy

Meredith Prunkard

Director of Membership & Development, Together We Will | Los Angeles

Meredith Prunkard is the Director of Membership and Development for Together We Will | Los Angeles (TWWLA), a volunteer-based, grassroots organization that works toward achieving equality for all. She is also involved in activist causes with the Animal Rights and vegan communities. She is a volunteer with the Southern California Bulldog Rescue and foster parent in the Senior Bulldog Hospice program. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a B.A. in Telecommunications, and a Minor in Psychology. Meredith makes a living as an Executive Producer in television.

Sarah Louise Tooke

Founder/Consultant, AP Consulting

Sarah Louise Tooke is a native Angeleno. After working in television production for six years, she now has her own digital marketing and business development practice. She holds a B.A. in Modern History from Oxford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. She chairs the Media and Creative Content Committee for Together We Will Los Angeles.

Be the Grassroots Change: Learn How to Get Appointed to a Local Boards or Commissions

Karen Eyres

Vice Chair, City of West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board

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Karen Eyres currently serves on the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board and she previously served on the Public Facilities Commission. She is the Career and College Counselor at LifeWorks, the youth program at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and she has led college admissions workshops at conferences for at-risk or under-served youth, including Models of Pride and College Within Reach. Karen serves on the Executive Committee for the Hollywood Chapter of the National Organization for Women and the Steering Committee for the End Rape Statute of Limitations (ERSOL) Campaign.

Nadia Sutton

Board Member, City of West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board

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Nadia Sutton was born in Brussels, Belgium, lived in Israel on a kibbutz, hitchhiked through Europe, and studied theater in Paris. She fell in love with Frederico Garcia Lorca’s poetry and moved to Southern Spain. Nadia lived in England for 12 years, co-created a pirate radio station, and worked as an actress.

In 1979, Nadia came to Los Angeles and continued her acting career. She rallied around her close friends getting sick with HIV/AIDS in 1984. She worked with Sally Fisher’s AIDS Mastery workshops to help people with HIV/AIDS live fuller lives. She also worked with national gay rights advocates, and many of these people became her life teachers.

In 1989 Nadia Co-founded PAWS LA, dedicated to help people living with AIDS/HIV and life threatening illnesses, and seniors to keep their beloved animal companions. She was on the City of West Hollywood Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board for 13 years, and now serves on the West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board. Nadia helped run Obama/NO on 8 campaign office in West Hollywood, is involved with many organizations dedicated to LGBT rights, is on the Board of Stonewall Dem Club and the YAC (LGBT Youth Advocacy Coalition) board, and is very proud to help promote the superb Advocate magazine in West Hollywood.

Josh Kurpies

District Director, Office of Assemblymember Richard Bloom

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Josh is responsible for managing the daily activities of the district field staff and constituent services manager serving the needs of the 470,000 residents living in the 50th Assembly District. With Assemblymember Bloom fulfilling his legislative duties in Sacramento for much of the year, Josh serves as his chief representative at meetings and other community events throughout the district.

Previously, Josh worked as a Scheduler and Legislative Aide to then-Assembly Rules Chair and now-Senator Nancy Skinner in her Capitol office in Sacramento. Josh has also served as Special Assistant to former Governor Gray Davis; Exec. Director of the Democratic Foundation of Orange County, a Political Action Committee raising funds to support Democrats running for office in Orange County; and as Council Deputy to then West Hollywood Mayor/Councilmember Jeffrey Prang.

Josh studied Political Science at California State University, Fullerton before moving to West Hollywood in 2003. Since then, he has served the community as a city employee, Public Facilities Commissioner, Public Safety Commissioner, and President of the West Hollywood|Beverly Hills Democratic Club. He continues to serve on the club’s executive board as Immediate Past President, and is an At-Large-Council-Appointee on the City’s Rent Stabilization Commissioner.

Workshopping Your Advocacy Ideas: Bring Your Project to the Table & Figure Out How to Make it Happen

Rachel Fox

Project Coordinator, Center for Nonprofit Management

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As Project Coordinator at the Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM), Rachel drives the development of the organization’s membership program, job board site, and online learning programs. She answers CNM’s nonprofit “helpline” and provides valuable information, resources, and referrals for members of the nonprofit community.

Prior to CNM, Rachel was an LA County Arts Commission Intern and Social Media Consultant for the Grand Vision Foundation, a South Bay arts nonprofit that produces live concerts and educational events at the historic Warner Grand Theatre. She has also helped conduct community outreach events, press conferences, and assisted with constituent casework for former Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

In the last few years year, Rachel has been an avid volunteer as a member of Planned Parenthood Young Professional and several State and Federal campaigns. She completed her B.A. in Political Science from Chapman University. Rachel lives, bikes, runs, and walks in Silver Lake.

Christina Gnozzo

Senior Account Executive, Dog And A Duck

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Christina is a publicist and activist based in Los Angeles, CA. She currently works as a Senior Account Executive at a lifestyle PR firm, Dog And A Duck, spearheading local and national press campaigns for a diverse portfolio of brands and restaurants. She specializes in social media, influencer relations, brand creation and continuity.

She is passionate about women’s rights and is closely affiliated with Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ Young Professionals, where she volunteers at a variety of events and serves as a liaison between the organization and the community.

Prior to working at Dog And A Duck, Christina worked in talent at Anderson Group Public Relations, where she assisted on A-list client accounts and spearheaded red carpet events for celebrities and philanthropic organizations, such as the Eva Longoria Foundation and the Brent Shapiro Foundation. She has also interned for The Division of Citizen Services under Mayor Byron Brown in Buffalo, NY, as well as the Barack Obama Presidential Campaign as Youth Vote Director in Morgantown, WV. Christina graduated from West Virginia University with a B.S. In Journalism.

Selina Vazquez

Director of Advocacy, Together We Will | Los Angeles

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Selina Vazquez is an activist and non-profit professional who believes that we must be the change we wish to see in the world. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2013, Selina has been an active volunteer with several organizations and campaigns. She is currently the Director of Advocacy for Together We Will, Los Angeles (TWWLA), a volunteer-based, grassroots, activist organization dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and protecting disenfranchised Americans.

She is also President-Elect of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’ Young Professionals, a member of the National Council of Jewish Women Los Angeles’ Advocacy Committee, and a member of the United Nations Association of America. She is a graduate of Fisher College, and currently working for the American Red Cross as a Major Gift Officer.

Julianna Parr

Founder of CraftNight and SparkleBlob

Julianna Parr has been an illustrator, designer, puppet maker, fabricator, writer, director, and general artistic nuisance and activist for over 25 years. She is dedicated to visually, culturally and socially changing the world through art, and she wants you to do it with her.

As Executive Director of SparkleBlob, Julianna runs and oversees weekly and annual programs (CraftNight!, Marathon Dawgs, DocuMARTTM, Gothtober, SparkleBlob’s Annual Holiday Puppet Show) designed to explore new ways of using use self-expression to provoke, elevate, and wake us all the hell up.

She has done everything from concept art to toy design, for companies and studios like Henson to Paramount to Jakks Pacific to Universal and more. You have probably used one of the toys she’s designed, or glanced her work in TV/ film. She lives in Echo Park with her awesome wife, Coral, their two dogs: Celsius and Fairfax, and cat: Skydancer.

Advocacy Training Breakout Session: Round Two

Storytelling for Change: Create Messages that Will Connect & Persuade

Leda Maliga

Executive Producer, TaskForce

Leda Maliga has produced everything from feature documentaries, TV shows and commercials to video games, websites, events, art installations and social media campaigns. She currently works at the intersection of art and social justice as Executive Producer for TaskForce PR and as co-founder and leader of Artivists into Action, a post-election grassroots organization to fight the Trump administration.

Leda grew up helping her mom make experimental films and marching in protests with her grandmother—and this devotion to using media to create change is the through line of her career. She worked as VP of production at Brave New Films where she co-developed the documentary series “This Brave Nation” as well as 100’s of short documentaries and oversaw the creation of a powerful online community. A more personal documentary film she produced about a woman who gets a cochlear implant and learns to hear called “PILAR” toured the festival circuit, winning Best Documentary Feature at Visionfest. Leda has produced scripted shows for Comedy Central, and silly-fun reality shows like “The Surreal Life” and “The 70’s House”.

She has also paid the bills as a line and agency producer on commercials for brands like Lexus, Haagen Dazs and Ralph Lauren. When she’s not busy leading the resistance, Leda hangs out in Echo Park with her son, Ozzie, and her diminutive Boston terrier, Beetle.

Cristina Pacheco

Activist Producer & Non Profit Consultant

Cristina Pacheco is an activist, producer, and nonprofit consultant based out of Los Angeles. Cristina has worked with local, state, and national organizations and movements at the intersection of civic engagement, social justice, and arts practice.

Previously, she served as the Director of Programs at Arts for LA where she created and still currently facilitates the ACTIVATE Arts Advocacy Leadership Program, training community arts advocates in areas of policy, leadership, coalition building, and communication. She has produced live theater shows such as Lyrics from Lockdown and WHAT IT IZ, using theater to give voice to issues of mass incarceration. Cristina was one of the organizers of the Women’s March in Los Angeles and continues to organize locally and nationally to build resistance and social justice movement. She also serves on the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Employment Equity for the City of Los Angeles and sits on the Advisory Board for The Underground Museum.

Nourbese Flint

Policy Director, Black Women For Wellness

Nourbese Flint is a blerd with a background in reproductive justice, journalism, all things X-Men and Batman related, matte lipsticks, Bob’s Burgers, and Star Trek. She is currently working at Black Women for Wellness where she directs policy, RJ programs, civic engagement and keeping markers and crayons organized.

Kelli Soto

Community Engagement & Policy Advocate, ACLU of Southern California

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Kelli Soto is a Community Engagement & Policy Advocate at the ACLU of Southern California. Her work focuses on collaborating with community members on sex education in schools, confidential health services, LGBTQ rights, gender equity and economic justice.

Kelli’s varied background rooted in social justice work includes an NIH-funded research project studying Gardasil at Mt. Sinai hospital, a project at the New York City Department of Health partnering with CBOs and schools to oversee the implementation of sex education, consulting with Race Forward, and social media and fundraising support to nonprofits in Haiti and Guatemala.

Kelli graduated from Columbia University in 2009, and her pronouns are she/her/hers.

It’s Your Turn: Running for Office 101

Ennette Morton

Southern California Recruiter, Close the Gap CA

Dr. Ennette Morton is a University Administrator, educator/advocate on women’s leadership, and serves as the Close the gap CA recruiter for Los Angeles/Orange County areas.

Prior to her current role in higher education, she served in executive leadership roles for the City of Riverside and as an entertainment publicist. She was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the California Cultural and Historic Endowment Board, is an Emerge CA alumni, and a former commissioner for the Riverside County Commission on Women.

Ennette earned her doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University where her research focused on California women political leaders. She also holds an MBA from Pepperdie’s Graziadio School of Business and Management, and bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. She currently lives with her husband and daughter in Long Beach.

Silissa Uriarte Smith

As an almost 20-year professional in progressive political, non-profit and government sectors, Silissa is an instinctive advocate with an inclusive nature and strong communication and strategic skill sets and her career has been filled with diverse work and experiences as an executive, senior level staffer and community based leader. She created 360 Collaborative Solutions in 2013 so that she could work with progressive clients who want to change their communities in meaningful, positive and long lasting ways.

Silissa’s professional successes are the result of mentorship, hard work and an exceptional education: a B.A. in Political Science from Stephens College and a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University’s Brandman School and has extensive executive leadership training under belt. Honors include: PLEN Leadership Award in 2015, Californians for Justice, Racial Justice Hero Award in 2007, and the California Democratic Party JFK Junior Community Service Award in 2003.

She actively serves on two Boards that work to embolden and empower women: Close the Gap California and for Stephens College as a Trustee. Silissa has been active with HOPE (Hispanas Organized for Political Equality), MANA A National Latina Organization, and the California Democratic Party. Her favorite things to do are to hang out with her besties in Long Beach, have a great yoga class and hike our gorgeous California land.

Stronger United: Effective Coalition Building for Organizations, Community Groups, and Individuals

Be a Social Entrepreneur! How to Create Change and Opportunity

Arlin Crane

Director of Social Enterprise, Homeboy Industries

As the Director of Social Enterprise, Culinary Division at Homeboy Industries, Arlin Crane works closely with formerly incarcerated and gang-affiliated men and women empowering them to develop the strength and skills to transform their lives and become contributing members of society.

Through Homeboy Industries’ job-training focused businesses including Homeboy Bakery, Homegirl Cafe and Catering, and a facility that produces tortilla strips and salsas that are sold at local supermarkets, Arlin helps trainees establish ownership in the social enterprises and has worked to create a culture of empowerment and self-worth.

With more than 25 years in the Hospitality and Food Industry, Arlin has helped establish Homeboy Industries as a culinary force in Los Angeles. Prior to joining Homeboy, Arlin most recently served as Executive Chef at Whole Foods Market in Los Angeles. Arlin attended numerous French culinary schools.

Margo Lang & Annie Lascoe

Co-Founders, Conscious Period

Annie Lascoe and Margo Lang are the co-founders of Conscious Period, an organic tampon company on a mission to provide healthy period products for all.

After earning her BA in Psychology at Yale, Margo worked for TOMS and gained business experience while earning her MBA at USC. Lascoe, a former social worker with a BA in Women’s Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and an MSW from Columbia, left the nonprofit world to reconcile her sense of purpose with her desire to create effective change through social enterprise.

Outraged by the lack of safe, quality period products and the lack of access to these essentials among low income women, they meld purpose and profit through product innovation, responsible giving, and social action. They are thrilled to build a business that has already been at the forefront of tremendous social change and new opportunity for women and girls.

Conference Program MCs

Noemi Torres

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Noemi Torres currently serves as Chair of the City of West Hollywood’s Women’s Advisory Board and was just named Woman of the Year of West Hollywood by U.S Representative for California’s 28th District Adam Schiff. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Noemi is a real estate professional with the John Aaroe Group Sunset. Passionate about giving back to the community and helping others, Noemi volunteers for Project Angel Food, AIDS Walk, Revlon Run/Walk, Children’s Hospital and Heal the Bay.

Maxine Tatlonghari

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Maxine Tatlonghari is the award-winning #femalefounder behind the multi-million dollar Vanity Girl Hollywood brand. She lives, works and plays in WeHo and serves as the First Vice Chair of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. With a social media reach of over 250,000 people, she loves to amplify causes she cares about and is a true WeHo influencer. You can find Maxine at VanityGirlHollywood.com and TheVanityDiaries.com.